
Siparex et al. to sell DSO Interactive
French VCs Siparex and Seventure Partners, the minority owners of French intermediation software developer DSO Interactive since 2003, are currently working on a sell-off to GP Montefiore Investment.
Speaking to unquote", sources close to the deal confirmed the sale was nearing completion and will likely be finalised by 30 September.
The identity of DSO's new owner was not confirmed but press reports pointed at Parisian house Montefiore. The GP, which typically deploys €8-30m per LBO transaction, is believed to be well positioned to secure a majority stake in the company.
Meanwhile, the company's founder and CEO Jean-François Bensahel will stay on board as minority shareholder, according to the same reports.
The change of ownership for DSO comes six months after the business picked up Teotys, Crédit Agricole's leasing and factoring division. The bolt-on is the latest in a series that, according to the company, has helped push revenues from €4.3m in 2004 to €30m in 2014.
Previous funding
In December 2003, Siparex and Seventure provided a joint €2.5m in capital to finance the development of the company's IT exchange platform.
The VC duo joined forces again during a $2.7m series-B for the business in March 2005. This was followed by a €2m venture loan from VC-focused debt provider ETV Capital in 2006.
Company
DSO develops intermediation software. The business started by providing automated legal debt collection services and then enlarged its offering to encompass the whole outstanding receivables segment. Created in 2001 as Convergence, it rebranded in 2004. Headquartered in Paris, the firm employs 160 professionals and posted €30m in sales in 2014.
People
Jean-François Bensahel founded DSO and is currently CEO at the company.
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